The Barron Blog

Monday, 31 May 2010

Riverdance At Casino Rama

Riverdance has been around since the early 1990s, but this is the first time that I caught the show.
The dancing is precisely co-ordinated and at times incredibly fast. It is a real treat for the senses as Ireland comes alive in the forms of dancers, singers and musicians.
Ireland is part of my heritage and I was able to indentify with this type of storytelling that used poetry, dances and songs to demonstrate how the Irish overcame adversity and found their place in the world.
A major disappointment were musical interludes from the musicians which slowed things down and took attention off the storyline. Three Stars.

Posted by qualteam at 9:48 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 31 May 2010 9:51 PM EDT

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Friday, 28 May 2010

Final Thoughts On "Lost"

I know there are many fans of Lost who think it was the greatest series on TV. I certainly don't share that opinion. Lost had the potential to be a great sci/fi story but it failed to achieve its potential. Please read below.
To begin with, the whole subject of "Who Or What Is Behind The Phenomena On The Island" was simply dropped. In place of an atequate resolution of Lost's main mysteries like the numbers, the donkey wheel, The Dharma Project, the light in the tunnel, etc. there was an obsession to wrap things up in "The Sideways World"(created by a Nuclear Explosion???). No characters in Lost seemed to remember that incident.
In the Sideways World, the plane crash never happened and people who were dead were suddenly very much alive. This is alternate universe (A)(present time) that lasted until the final episode when the losties suddenly found themselves in alternate universe (B) (A timeless zone) where the plane crash did exist. This is either a paradox or two separate universes created by God knows what.
The mind boggles at the contrived events used to bring Lost to an end.
The last scene in the church looked like the finale cast party.

Posted by qualteam at 1:39 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 29 May 2010 7:36 AM EDT

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Monday, 24 May 2010

The May Two-Four Holiday In Canada

The 24th of May is officially, Queen Victoria Day in Canada. Lately, more and more Canadians are now calling it "Two-Four Day". This is a reference to a 24-bottle-case-of-beer. I think Bob and Ted Mackenzie started this two-four craze with their "Two-Four Anniverary Show". In actual fact, the 24th of May is the unofficial start of Summer. Beer sales skyrocket like fireworks on "Firecracker Day". It is public holiday. You might call it "National Beer Day".
Only in Canada, could you have someone raising a pint to the memory of a queen who's been dead for over a hundred years.

Posted by qualteam at 4:02 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 24 May 2010 4:05 PM EDT

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The Losties Check Out Of The Island

Instead of a war between the good guys and the bad guys, Lost found itself being a story about "Moving To The Light With Friends". This was disappointing because I really wanted to see the real Locke appear and defeat the false Locke on his home turf.
The real Locke could have also been a mentor in helping his dead and living friends discover the secrets of "The Sideways World".
What bugs me is that a weak character like Jacob got to interact after death with his candidates about "Protecting The Light" while the real Locke went to "Lost Heaven" until the others joined him.
The warm fuzzies of the ending don't make up for the lack of a good protagonist in Season Six.
Jack Shepard isn't a good leader because he followed the others into the light. "Gee, I'm dead, thanks for telling me dad".
More reviews of the Lost Finale.

Posted by qualteam at 8:40 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 24 May 2010 9:13 AM EDT

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Thursday, 20 May 2010

The Big Attractions In "Lost" Are The Mysteries

These mysteries are multiple and complex. I like stories that challenge my intellect and imagination.
Unfortunately, the series lacks a dynamic protagonist that I can indentify with and cheer for. John Locke appeared at first to be a natural leader, but he got killed off three quarters of the way through. I think the producers realized their mistake and brought him back as the smoke monster taking the form of John Locke, now he's the bad guy.
The other potential protaganists like Jacob and Jack Shepard have glaring weaknesses or lack of leadership that hold them back. Those guys don't seem to have a clue about getting the losties off the island or solving the big mysteries(Like the existence of the "Sideways World").
Recently, I expressed my views on a "Lost Forum" of what I was looking forward to in the finale:
"Dying isn't a way to get off the island. Moving into a "Sideways Alternate World" isn't either. The island blew up from a nuclear device at the end of season five and it's still there. Of course, going away physically isn't a solution because the "Oceanic Six" came back.
The lost souls who are dead have to go to "The Light" at the centre of island. Jacob burns his ashes but that won't allow him to leave the island. Both MIB and Jacob have failed to reach enlightenment on why souls are hanging around this area. Leaving the island physically, probably involves Desmond, the Donkey Wheel, The Magic Numbers and the electromagnetic properties of the island. The Losties would then be propelled into the Sideways World. I would have liked it if Jack, Richard or Hugo asked more questions concerning the above. If I was lost on this incredible island, I'd be trying to solve those puzzles".
I'm expecting a bit of let down for the finale. Some loose ends will be tied and others won't.
P.S. In Stars Wars, Obi Wan Kenobi became more powerful after he died. It would be great if the real John Locke appeared to save everyone after the fake John Locke is about to do everyone in. I don't think this will happen. The producers made a mistake by killing their best actor and protagonist. They brought John Locke back as "Ole Smokie" because they needed him in the series. Jack Shepard doesn't fill the real Locke's shoes. He was simply drafted because he's better looking than Hurley.

Posted by qualteam at 11:15 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 23 May 2010 12:44 PM EDT

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Saturday, 15 May 2010

Decoding Lost

The finale of Lost is next week. I have some thoughts on the last episode "Across The Sea". I put this on a "Lost Forum".
"When people die, they're suppose to go to "The Light" in order to leave this earthly realm. This seems to be a theme from "Across The Sea". It applies to those who are marooned on the island. They could be a human, a ghost or something else. However, there's some problem about a human going to the light. Jacob knocks out his brother (MIB) and sends him to the light that kills him and perhaps changes him into a "Smoke Monster".(I'm not sure about that.)
The light at the end of the tunnel is a transportation beacon for spirits who are imprisioned on the island. Humans have to use "The Dharma Wheel" connected indirectly with the light to leave.
More and more, the Man In Black looks like the good guy. Obviously, he was put out of commission by Jacob and his mother (the true smoke monster) who doesn't want the losties or anyone else to discover the secrets of the island".

The mother should be revealed as "The Smoke Monster" who is in John Locke's form. The real John Locke should be a good guy who aligns himself with The Man In Black in helping the losties get home.
P.S. The number one TV Finale of any sci/fi show has to be Star Trek's
"All Good Things...". I doubt there will be any world saving in The Lost Finale.

Posted by qualteam at 7:59 AM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 15 May 2010 1:23 PM EDT

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Wednesday, 5 May 2010

BuddyWhatIsName At Stage West

Most people know that Canada has produced some great comedians like Wayne and Shuster, John Candy and Jim Carrey. A hidden treasure in this field is "BuddyWhatIsName" from Newfoundland. His real name is Kevin Blackmore and his sings and performs with his group called "The Other Fellas".
We saw the group perform a couple of days ago at Stage West. The song about a horny gorilla was the funniest because Buddy did his imitation of the beast during the chorus. He also did hilarious takes on Newfoundland premier, Danny Williams and a Newfy "terrorist".
The group also played traditional Newfoundland songs on the guitar, the bass, the accordion and the Mandolin.
The best one was "Saltwater Joys".
Losties and Newfies may both be lost in time and space, but the Newfies love their island. Four Stars for the concert.

Posted by qualteam at 12:08 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 6 May 2010 8:17 AM EDT

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Saturday, 1 May 2010

Will There Be A Big Payoff In "Lost"?

I've just started to watch "Lost". I've caught up on some of the storyline through popups. I'm a great fan of "The Twilight Zone" in the 1960s. I can see parallels there in this TV series. There was a TZ episode where spacemen discover themselves dead on a planet. They try to escape this fact by flying away from planet, but fail. In the end, they loop back to the "discovery incident" of the crash site.
In Lost, there are many flashbacks to meaningful events in the losties' lives. Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" is a good example of that when the souls in the graveyard relive their previous lives.
When Lost began in 2004, it looked too much like a soap opera. In 2007, a big fan wrote about this and the lack of emphasis on the mythology of the island.
By 2010, the mysteries of the island and complexity of the storyline had increased enormously. This awakened my interest in the TV series and how things will be resolved.
Here's my prediction of the final show based on what I've seen so far. I hope there's a big payoff for the fans.
We all know that "flashes"(back, side and forward) have become part of the storyline. Hugo's flashback(side? forward?) on meeting Libby in LA confirmed that both were on the Oceanic plane flight. The memory at first escapes Hugo, but as Libby persists it's revealed in his mind. Hugo begins to see his life in LA as an alternate reality. There's also more wish fulfillment flashbacks (sides?,forwards?) from the other characters.
The island seems outside of time. Remember the incidents of 1974 and Richard's 19th century origins. Conclusion: Whoever gets stuck on the island has only one way out: "The Quantum Leap". This leap would be just prior to the trip that got them to the island. I can see Hugo quantum leaping in the final episode and stopping himself and Libby from taking the Oceanic flight.
The magnetism on the island that Whitmore is trying to harness supplies the power for the quantum leaps.
Richard will leap back to his dying wife in Spain in the 19th century. This time he won't go after the bogus medicine from the quack doctor.
Some losties will quantum leap off the island, but end up taking the same route that got them there. Locke would be one of them. Some learn from their mistakes. Others don't and they're doomed to repeat them.
P.S. There's an interesting post on the person of "J.A.C.O.B" in Lost. Check it out.

Posted by qualteam at 10:35 AM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 1 May 2010 11:14 AM EDT

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Monday, 26 April 2010

Charlie Pride In Concert At Casino Rama

When Charlie Pride became a star in country music, it was a bigger miracle than Barack Obama winning the U.S. presidency. He acknowledged that he had considerable help from some country stars in the 1960s. They included Earnest Tubb, Buck Owens, Wayland Jennings and Chet Atkins.
During the concert, he also sang songs from Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, and Hank Williams. The show was about the legends of country music which included Charlie himself. Even if you weren't a country fan, you would appreciate Charlie's choices in music including some great gospel songs.
Charlie's 72 years old and his memory of song lyrics failed him on occasion. However, he made jokes about it and produced some good laughs. He's also the only performer I know who sings and signs autographs for people at the same time.
Charlie is a traditional country singer with lots of twang in voice. He may lack vocal range, but the feelings that he puts into his songs is genuine. Three Stars.

Posted by qualteam at 10:29 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 27 April 2010 8:13 AM EDT

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Monday, 19 April 2010

The 50th Anniversary Of SETI

Recently, I discovered a few things about "The Seti Program" that might discourage aliens from contacting us. Please read below:
"In order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence), England’s Telegraph newspaper asked readers to submit what they would like to communicate to aliens before the visit Earth. Expecting wonderful, uplifting notes extolling our virtues as humans, the Telegraph was shocked to discover the opposite, with the overwhelming majority asking for aliens to please put us out of our misery".
1. For what would he learn about mankind? First, that we are vicious, creatures who have already done a great job of wrecking our home. “Please kill us now … have no mercy,” urged a gentleman from Indiana. “We are evil and you must defend yourself.”
2. “Keep away from this planet,” agreed Pamela from Sicily. “Mankind is only intent on depleting, abusing and destroying [it]. They will do the same to yours should they find it. Mankind is the worst virus in the universe. You have been warned.”
3. Nick from Calne was equally blunt: “If you manage to work out how to travel to us, don’t bother, as we’ll probably probe you, try to blow you up or worse still, steal your technology and invade… Have a nice day.”
4. Rob from Georgia, meanwhile, was prepared to throw the rest of mankind to the lions: “Dearest Aliens, If you choose to conquer Earth, please do not kill or enslave those of us who can name all 12 men to have walked on the Moon. We are the ones worth keeping around.”
5. Seema from Elgin had a compelling reason for ET not to bother with us: “If you’re planning to visit our planet, please know you will need to remove all metal from your person, take your shoes off and submit to a full body scan, carry all liquids/gels/aerosols in clear plastic bottles no bigger than 3.4oz, surrender all cigarette lighters and batteries, pack all jams and jellies (but pies can be carried on)… Oh, yes. Welcome to the Earth!”
There were also unsuccessful "First Contact Events" in the last 5,000 years which created most of the world's religions.
Putting it all together, there's more reasons why aliens wouldn't contact us compared to reasons why they would.
It would be beneficial for mankind to access superior technology that would improve the environment of Earth and the health of individuals.
Personally, I feel that first contact will occur with individuals who can be trusted to use scientific knowledge properly like Tesla.

Posted by qualteam at 11:11 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 19 April 2010 11:25 PM EDT

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